Beer used to be officially classified as food in England. It was normal to drink beer instead of water because until relatively recently many people in England (and elsewhere) didn`t have reliable access to safe drinking water.

The daily ration of beer for sailors in the Britiah Royal Navy was 8 pints.

Beer drinking was strongly promoted in 18th century England in a campaign against the biggest drug abuse problem in the country at that time (gin).

Although with those 3 things it`s worth bearing in mind that beer in the past was usually much less alcoholic than beer today.